Plymouth (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 14, 2026 – A section of a construction site in Plymouth has been cordoned off after workers discovered a suspected piece of ordnance on Martin Street late on Wednesday morning, prompting a response from police and a Royal Navy bomb disposal team.
Devon and Cornwall Police have closed off a 100m (328ft) area of the site while specialists work to identify the object and ensure it is made safe. The Royal Navy’s Devonport-based Bravo Squadron has been deployed to the scene to assess the device. Police have described the incident as ongoing and have urged members of the public to avoid the area until further notice.
Suspected ordnance triggers police cordon in Plymouth
Part of a construction site in Martin Street, Plymouth, has been sealed off after a suspected item of ordnance was discovered on Wednesday, leading to a significant emergency response and public safety measures. According to reporting by BBC News, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were alerted to the discovery at about 11:40 GMT and subsequently closed a 100m section of the site while assessments were carried out. As reported by BBC journalists, officers confirmed that the incident remained ongoing and asked people to stay away from the area while the situation was being evaluated.
Devon and Cornwall Police stated that, at this stage, the priority is to identify the object and ensure it presents no risk to workers, residents, or passing members of the public.
The force has not released further technical details about the device, its size or likely origin, emphasising instead the need for caution while ordnance specialists conduct their work. Officers at the scene have focused on maintaining the cordon and directing traffic and pedestrians away from Martin Street to minimise disruption and keep people clear of the immediate vicinity.
Royal Navy Bravo Squadron leads bomb disposal response
The Royal Navy has confirmed that its Devonport-based bomb disposal unit, Bravo Squadron, has been dispatched to Martin Street to assess and deal with the suspected ordnance.
According to information published by the Royal Navy, Bravo Squadron is part of the service’s diving and threat exploitation group and is trained to respond to potentially dangerous munitions both on land and at sea. As noted in Royal Navy materials, such teams routinely assist civilian police forces when unexploded ordnance or suspicious military-type objects are found during construction, coastal work, or redevelopment projects.
Ministry of Defence officials highlighted the scale of similar past operations in Plymouth as military teams mobilised. Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 – @DefenceHQ said in X post,
“One of the largest UK peacetime evacuation operations since WW2 is underway in Plymouth, where @BritishArmy and @RoyalNavy have been working round the clock to make safe a 500kg unexploded bomb. Personnel are working with @plymouthcc & emergency services to evacuate residents.”
One of the largest UK peacetime evacuation operations since WW2 is underway in Plymouth, where @BritishArmy and @RoyalNavy have been working round the clock to make safe a 500kg unexploded bomb.
Personnel are working with @plymouthcc & emergency services to evacuate residents. pic.twitter.com/uTzNtwhHjH
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) February 23, 2024
Specialist personnel from Bravo Squadron are expected to carry out a detailed examination of the item to determine whether it is live ordnance, an inert training device, or a harmless object mistaken for a weapon. In line with standard procedures, the unit will decide whether the device can be made safe on site, removed for further examination, or requires a controlled explosion in a secure location. The Royal Navy has not provided a timetable for the completion of the operation, and no further technical details about the suspected ordnance have been released so far.
Public urged to avoid Martin Street as incident continues
Devon and Cornwall Police have urged members of the public to avoid Martin Street while the cordon remains in place and the bomb disposal team carries out its work. As set out in police guidance in similar incidents, restricting access helps emergency services operate more quickly and reduces any potential risk should the object prove to be hazardous.
Officers have not announced any wider evacuations or road closures beyond the 100m cordon around the construction site, and there have been no reports from the authorities of injuries or damage resulting from the discovery.
Police have encouraged local residents and businesses to follow official updates through trusted channels rather than relying on unverified information. In previous public safety advisories, the force has typically recommended that people monitor official police websites and social media accounts, as well as established local news outlets, for confirmed developments. At this stage, the authorities have not indicated when the cordon is likely to be lifted, saying only that it will remain in place until specialists are satisfied that the site is safe.
Plymouth’s history of construction finds and ordnance
Plymouth’s status as a major naval and dockyard city means that construction and redevelopment projects occasionally uncover historic ordnance or suspected military objects. During the Second World War, the city was heavily bombed and hosted significant naval and military activity, leaving the possibility that unexploded devices or remnants might still be present underground in some locations.
Local reporting over recent years has highlighted instances where building work, civil engineering projects or coastal activity prompted the temporary closure of streets or areas while experts examined suspicious finds.
Following the successful handling of a major unexploded bomb in Plymouth, political figures expressed appreciation for the military response. Rt Hon Sir Grant Shapps – @grantshapps said in X post,
“Thank you to all those personnel who’ve worked day & night to keep people safe and remove from harm’s way the unexploded bomb found in Plymouth. The success of this operation is a testament to the skill and fortitude with which our Armed Forces serve when faced with high risks.”
Thank you to all those personnel who’ve worked day & night to keep people safe and remove from harm’s way the unexploded bomb found in Plymouth.
The success of this operation is a testament to the skill and fortitude with which our Armed Forces serve when faced with high risks. pic.twitter.com/GqzUflH8rC
— Rt Hon Sir Grant Shapps (@grantshapps) February 23, 2024
Standard practice in such cases is to treat any suspected ordnance as potentially dangerous until it is assessed by qualified bomb disposal personnel. Construction teams are instructed to halt work immediately, inform the police, and secure the area to prevent unauthorised access.
The response on Martin Street follows this established protocol, with building activity suspended and a structured handover to the police and Royal Navy specialists to manage any risk to workers and the wider community.
Ongoing investigation and next steps on site
The incident on Martin Street remains under active assessment, with the focus on confirming the nature of the suspected ordnance and determining what further action is necessary.
Once Bravo Squadron has completed its examination and any required disposal work, police are expected to scale back and then remove the cordon, allowing construction work to resume if the site is deemed safe.
Authorities typically undertake a review following such incidents to confirm whether any additional surveys or precautionary checks are needed in surrounding areas of the development.
In the interim, the construction project is likely to experience some delay as the investigation continues and safety checks are completed. Developers and contractors commonly work with local authorities and, where necessary, defence experts to adjust timelines and ensure any residual risks are managed before operations recommence.
Further official updates are expected once bomb disposal specialists report their findings and Devon and Cornwall Police issue a formal statement on the outcome of the response at the Martin Street site.